… Motorsport and the Minimum Age …
If the MSA is serious about attracting newcomers to the sport then perhaps they should focus their attention on the glaring anomaly that exists in Auotesting and Autosolos.
Last weekend I attended an Autosolo at Kames where 15 year old Lewis Winder was spectating while his Dad contested the series of 8 ‘forwards only’ tests in a 1 litre Micra. What’s wrong with that you might ask? It just so happens that the Micra was Lewis’ rally car.
He competes in the Junior 1000 rally series for 14-17 year old. Admittedly he has the services of an experienced co-driver on such events, but there is no restriction on speed, although the special stages he contests are far more intellectually and physically demanding than an Autosolo.
Even more ridiculous is the fact that on a ‘Production Car Autotest’, where there are no limits on car or engine size, the minimum age requirement is 14, while the minimum age of a passenger – if carried – is 12!
The rules for ‘Autotests’, ‘All-Forwards Autotests’ and ‘Autosolos’ state that the minimum age for the driver (no passengers allowed in these) is 16.
So whilst Lewis watched his Dad thrashing around (and spinning!) in his rally car, he was unable to take the wheel and show the ol’man where he was going wrong.
This position is indefensible in light of the fact that youngsters can race karts from the age of 8 while the bikers can start from the age of 11. It goes without saying, they can’t take an experienced adult with them in either sport.
So it makes no sense to have such severe restrictions on those who wish to take up four wheeled motorsport in a strictly controlled environment.
It’s also one of the cheapest forms of motor sport. At East Ayrshire’s recent all-forwards autosolo at Kames, the Fair family turned up with their latest competition machine, a 14 year old Suzuki Swift. To illustrate how much pre-comp prep had gone into it, Russell (Dad) revealed: “We didn’t know what was under the bonnet till we opened it and counted just three spark plug leads! We hadn’t realised it was a 3 cylinder motor – but it had tread on the tyres, fuel in the tank, an MOT and some tax still on it. And it only cost us 100 quid!”
Russell and the two boys each had 8 runs in the car with Cameron, the eldest, finishing 11th overall while ‘just turned 17’ year old Keith was 14th, and both beating their Pop who trailed in 15th. It was 20 quid an entry, so for 160 quid all-in, the family had a fun day out – and still had a ‘competition asset’ at the end of the day!
If we want to attract youngsters to our sport then the current age limit must be lowered. By all means restrict the size of car that a youngster can use, and perhaps even consider the carrying of an adult with a full licence, but there are many 12 year olds out there who can drive a lot better and a lot safer than an awful lot of grown-ups who think they are safe and competent drivers.
These types of event provide not only fun, but they can teach youngsters car control and respect for machinery, and perhaps more importantly, respect for solid objects outside the car – like walls, barriers and assorted street furniture. It also allows them to build confidence in their own ability in a perfectly safe environment before they hit the public road. What’s not to like?
At the recent launch of the Scottish Motor Sports strategy, introduced by Sir Jackie Stewart, I met 12 year old Dexter Patterson, the 2015 IAME Cadet Super One British Champion and 2015 Formula Kart Stars Super Cadet Champion, and 16 year old Rory Skinner, the 2014 Aprilia Superteens Champion and now racing in Spain in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.
They impressed the hell out of me with their confidence and maturity – and for me, they were the real stars of the show amongst all the great and the good, motor sporting glitterati around them.
It’s time motor sport caught up. Dexter started racing when he was 6 1/2 and Rory started when he was 7. Colin McRae started autotesting at 16 – because he couldn’t start any earlier.